An Electrical Estimator is a professional who specializes in analyzing and estimating the costs associated with electrical construction projects. These estimators play a crucial role in accurately determining project budgets, creating competitive bids, and ensuring the financial success of electrical projects. In this blog post, we will describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Electrical Estimators.

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Main Responsibilities of an Electrical Estimator

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of an Electrical Estimator:

Adhere to

• Adhere to all company policies and procedures.

• Adhere to the Company's Quality System operating procedures.

Advise

• Advise on tendering procedures, examine and analyze tenders, recommend tender awards.

• Advise the company how to increase sales.

Analyze

• Analyze project risks and develop contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances.

• Analyze project specifications, drawings, and other relevant documents.

• Analyze subcontractor quotes and negotiate pricing when necessary.

Assemble

Assemble all elements of an estimate including labour, material, equipment and subcontractor pricing.

Assist in

• Assist in material and equipment purchasing for secured jobs.

• Assist in the selection and maintenance of subcontractors within a database.

• Assist project management and contracting personnel with bid analysis and contract negotiations.

• Assist Quality Control with site inspections, document turnover, and completion of as-built drawings.

• Assist with estimate turnover to execution team.

• Assist with the presentation to clients.

Assume

Assume responsibility for work outcomes and results of other workers.

Attend

• Attend and / or lead post tender interviews.

• Attend and participate in site-visits, pre-bid meeting and post-bid meeting as required.

• Attend departmental meetings as required.

• Attend job sites to determine scope of work with customers.

• Attend pre-bid meetings and scope reviews.

• Attend site meetings as required.

• Attend team meeting for clarification.

• Attend training recommended by management.

Build

• Build and maintain customer and supplier / vendor relationships.

• Build new client base and keep an good relationship with existing.

Carry out

Carry out site surveys, attend pre-tender, post-tender and pre-order meetings.

Clarify

Clarify scope with General Contractor and Engineer.

Coach

Coach junior estimators on electrical scope and pricing.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate with project managers and engineers to understand project requirements.

• Collaborate with the legal team to review and assess contract terms and conditions.

• Collaborate with the procurement team to ensure timely availability of materials.

• Collaborate with Vendors and Customers for the "best value” customer solutions.

Complete

• Complete Schedule of Values or RFP required price breakdown form to support the proposal.

• Complete take-offs from electrical drawings.

Conduct

Conduct site visits and inspections to assess project requirements.

Confer

Confer and negotiate with subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers.

Consult with

Consult with vendors and suppliers to obtain competitive pricing.

Contact

Contact trades and suppliers regarding invitations, pricing, addenda and tender / bid closings.

Convert

Convert written specifications and construction drawings into quotations.

Coordinate

• Coordinate and prepare accurate cost estimates for electrical construction projects.

• Coordinate and review estimates to ensure accuracy and completeness.

• Coordinate with Preconstruction Team to identify and fill scope gaps.

• Coordinate with subcontractors and suppliers to obtain quotes and pricing.

Create

• Create and implement estimating procedures.

• Create and maintain customer relationships.

• Create and maintain supplier relationships.

• Create initial electrical specification.

• Create project plans from estimates, and define tasks, schedules, and necessary personnel.

Determine

Determine most cost-effective options to meet project specifications.

Develop

• Develop and maintain active bid list.

• Develop a strong understanding of the requirements.

Document

Document the rationale, methodology, and supporting information utilized for estimates.

Draft

Draft technical and commercial proposals with detailed pricing and clarifications.

Engage with

Engage with sub-contractors and suppliers for the best prices.

Ensure

• Ensure bids and proposals are completed on time for team review prior to submission.

• Ensure foremen are clear on scope of contract.

• Ensure required permitting is in place for the projects within your control.

Establish

Establish and maintain tendering process, set up cost monitoring, reporting systems and procedures.

Estimate

• Estimate and process change orders from various projects.

• Estimate and submit bids for electrical projects.

• Estimate costing for electrical job scope.

• Estimate costing of the electrical job scope for the project.

• Estimate labor costs based on project complexity and timelines.

• Estimate project costs and submit tenders, manage project performance.

Evaluate

• Evaluate and compare bids from subcontractors and suppliers.

• Evaluate any opportunities that can be quoted.

• Evaluate potential projects to bid and new areas of opportunity.

• Evaluate project scope, risks, and potential challenges.

• Evaluate the costs estimated by applying alternative pricing.

Execute

Execute take-offs of construction documents and structure cost breakdowns.

File

File electronic documents.

Fill out

Fill out pre-qualification tenders for public and private sectors.

Follow

Follow thoroughly, develops as needed and implement improvement to standard estimating processes.

Follow-up with

Follow-up with tenders with general contractors and owners to get bid results.

Generate

Generate scope letters for proposals.

Identify

• Identify and document difficult / non-standard conditions.

• Identify and quantify materials, equipment, and labor required for a project.

• Identify possible cost saving opportunities and / or risk items.

• Identify potential projects that coincide with company's strengths.

• Identify value engineering opportunities to optimize project costs.

Initiate

Initiate vendor quotes and pricing for electrical components.

Innovate

Innovate new techniques as required to support future bids.

Interpret

Interpret electrical plans and specifications.

Liaise with

• Liaise, consult and communicate with engineers, architects, owners, contractors and subcontractors.

• Liaise with procurement to assist in the obtaining pricing on aspects of the estimate.

• Liaise with Procurement to assist in the obtaining pricing on aspects of the estimate.

• Liaise with suppliers and collect quotes on materials.

• Liaise with the Client, and keep the General Manager up to speed on the contract status.

Maintain

• Maintain accurate files and backup data to support estimates.

• Maintain accurate records of estimating activities and documentation.

• Maintain and grow client relationships.

• Maintain estimating templates, tools, and software.

• Maintain good relationship with clients, consultants, general contractors and suppliers.

• Maintain master electrical bill of materials and / or estimating database.

• Maintain proper files for product quotes within company quotations program.

Manage

• Manage and provide leadership for safety, environment, and quality programs and policies.

• Manage labor requirements as per job specifications.

• Manage workload and be proactive to avoid "last minute” stress.

Material

Material, labor, and equipment takeoffs.

Meet

• Meet client tender response timeframes.

• Meet monthly and yearly quotas.

• Meet with customers to develop project requirements.

Negotiate

Negotiate the best deal for cost, quality, and delivery using the company buyout procedure.

Offer

Offer insight to develop an bid submission process to mitigate the risk and increase the profits.

Oversee

Oversee price packages with suppliers, subcontractors, engineers regarding tenders as required.

Participate in

• Participate in all site meetings with the client and other trades on the project.

• Participate in bid evaluation meetings and discussions.

• Participate in estimating turnover meetings with project team to assist planning and budget process.

• Participate in site reviews, prepare project risk assessments, tender reviews and tender hand-off.

• Participate in turnover process to Operations.

• Participate in value engineering and cost reduction initiatives.

• Participate in weekly estimating reviews of closings, opportunities, workload, etc..

Perform

• Perform general administrative and recordkeeping functions.

• Perform other duties as assigned by Management.

Prepare

• Prepare accurate and competitive bids and proposals.

• Prepare an complete estimate by review of specifications,contracts documents and Drawings.

• Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.

• Prepare and present cost estimates to clients or stakeholders.

• Prepare and schedule meetings and provide a detailed summary of outcomes.

• Prepare an overall project scheduling, including labour, material, and subcontractor inputs.

• Prepare bid for client submission, including all bid documentation.

• Prepare bid packages and tender documents.

• Prepare cost estimates and budgets for electrical projects.

• Prepare detailed take-offs and material quantity calculations.

• Prepare material orders and other documentation.

• Prepare multi-discipline, conceptual and definitive cost estimates for Capital Projects.

• Prepare, Review, Send and Follow up on Estimates / Quotations.

• Prepare RFI's as needed for quotations.

Provide

• Provide guidance for non-estimating personnel on their estimating related requirements.

• Provide Job Cost Analysis.

• Provide professional expertise in the resolution of complex estimating problems.

• Provide support and clarification to project teams regarding cost-related matters.

• Provide technical support, training, and / or prepare estimates as needed.

• Provide technical training to subordinates.

• Provide value engineering ideas.

Purchase

Purchase materials and equipment.

Read

Read, interpret and understand electrical drawings and specifications.

Represent

Represent company in project meetings and attend strategy meetings.

Research

Research and gather information on material costs and availability.

Review

• Review and analyze change orders and their impact on project costs.

• Review and estimate the cost of materials, labour, sub-trades and equipment for projects.

• Review and interpret electrical blueprints and schematics.

• Review and provides feedback on electrical scope of work on bids prepared by other team members.

• Review bid / tender documents and assesses potential risk.

• Review blueprints and drawings.

• Review construction documents and understand the scope of work to bid.

• Review customer electrical specification to determine job scope.

• Review electrical drawings and documents to determine scope of work and requirements.

• Review estimates with manager and ensure margin targets are achieved.

• Review opportunities (OAC, Merx) with the GM to identify targeted projects.

• Review potential opportunities with general manager on a weekly basis.

• Review, prepare tenders and estimates.

• Review tender closing documents and obtain signed / sealed, bonding / insurance certificates, etc...

• Review the final details with management for the estimated cost.

Revise

Revise packages and prepare addendums as needed.

Set out

Set out and build-up of quotations.

Stay updated on

Stay updated on industry trends, material costs, and construction methods.

Support

• Support managers in creating new proposals.

• Support project managers in the preparation of project budgets.

• Support the Estimating team where needed.

Track

• Track all bids, proposals in excel sheet and submit to Project Admin for entry into the CRM Tool.

• Track all bids, proposals in the excel sheet.

• Track record of achievement and career progression.

Understand

Understand the conceptual aspect of estimating.

Update

• Update and maintain a database of cost estimates and pricing information.

• Update and maintain estimating systems.

Use

Use local expertise to estimate costs.

Utilize

• Utilize computer-estimating programs (ACCE "K-Base , MS project, excel, timberline, etc.).

• Utilize estimating software and tools to enhance accuracy and efficiency.

• Utilize estimating software in the estimating function.

Verify

Verify estimate accuracy by comparing data versus similar bids.

Work with

• Work in collaboration with the Estimating team to create bid packages and prepare for closings.

• Work with and serves PM's and SM's from various departments.

• Work with leadership to provide market priced winning quotes.

• Work with project manager after the job is awarded.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of an Electrical Estimator:

1. Proficiency in reading and interpreting electrical blueprints and schematics.

2. Competence in conducting material take-offs and quantity calculations.

3. Knowledge of electrical systems, equipment, and materials.

4. Skill in estimating labor costs and project timelines.

5. Proficiency in using estimating software and tools.

6. Knowledge of electrical codes, regulations, and industry standards.

7. Competence in analyzing project specifications and requirements.

8. Familiarity with construction methods and practices.

9. Skill in analyzing and evaluating subcontractor quotes.

10. Proficiency in conducting cost analysis and value engineering.

11. Knowledge of industry pricing trends and material costs.

12. Competence in preparing detailed and accurate cost estimates.

13. Familiarity with project management principles and methodologies.

14. Skill in negotiating pricing with vendors and suppliers.

15. Proficiency in utilizing spreadsheet software for cost calculations.

16. Knowledge of electrical cost codes and cost breakdown structures.

17. Competence in analyzing project risks and developing contingency plans.

18. Familiarity with legal and contractual terms relevant to estimating.

19. Skill in preparing and presenting bids and proposals.

20. Proficiency in using project management and collaboration tools.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of an Electrical Estimator:

1. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

2. Strong attention to detail and accuracy in cost estimation.

3. Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

4. Time management and organizational skills to meet deadlines.

5. Ability to work independently and within a team.

6. Adaptability and flexibility to handle changing project requirements.

7. Strong negotiation and influencing abilities.

8. Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

9. Critical thinking and decision-making skills.

10. Commitment to client satisfaction and building relationships.

Conclusion

Electrical Estimators play a critical role in the success of electrical construction projects by accurately estimating costs and ensuring project feasibility. By possessing the necessary hard and soft skills, these professionals contribute significantly to the financial planning and profitability of electrical projects.